Archive for June 14th, 2012

The Duchess of Cambridge holding her purse in front of her is not a sure sign she's pregnant. That's just where Kate tends to hold her purse. She's seen here at Nottingham Station for a Jubilee visit on Wednesday. (Photo: Tony Clark/Craig Harris/WENN.com)

They’re baaack!

Pregnancy rumours, that is. They’re creeping into tweets, and on to the covers of tabloid magazines declaring Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge, is expecting.

Sigh

I’ve addressed this on the blog before, but it seems there’s been a resurgence in the rumours since the main Diamond Jubilee celebrations earlier this month.

Yesterday, as I stood in line at the store to buy milk, InTouch magazine announced the couple’s happy news. Except, it’s not real.

Another article tweeted today noted Prince William and Duchess Kate “have a plan in place” to announce their baby when they become pregnant. Most people who commented were writing congratulatory messages – not realizing that Kate is not pregnant.

Here’s the thing – many of these magazines and online articles use photos of Kate touching her stomach as “proof” she’s with child. But that’s just what Kate does – she touches her stomach. She needs to stop doing it, but I get the impression it’s something she does more from nerves than from the early flutterings of a baby.

So, what will happen when and if Kate becomes pregnant? Here’s a basic idea:

1. Kate will take a pregnancy test and share the happy news with her husband. They might tell immediate family right away. She’ll go see the doctor.

2. Royal officials will wait three months – when the highest risk of a miscarriage has passed – to announce the pregnancy. They will announce it. Prince Charles and Diana announced it when she was pregnant with both William and Harry. There will be no difference here – Will and Kate will announce their pregnancy when they are ready.

3. Kate will continue to partake in royal outings, but you may see her schedule cut back.

Do not fret. You are not going to miss the news.

And the chances a U.S. tabloid magazine is the first to report she’s “in the family way” is pretty darn slim. They’re just trying to sell magazines — which is their job — but after several months of false reports and front pages declaring Kate is pregnant, I’d think readers would stop paying attention.